DIEP flap
A DIEP flap is type of autologous breast reconstruction in which skin, fat, and blood vessels from the lower abdomen are transferred to the chest to reconstruct the breast following mastectomy. DIEP stands for the deep inferior epigastric perforator artery, which runs through the abdomen.
Overview
The DIEP flap reconstruction procedure is similar to the muscle-sparing free TRAM flap procedure, but it only requires the removal of skin and fat. Unlike in the TRAM procedure, however, no muscle is sacrificed. The DIEP flap—like the TRAM flap—requires an incision into the abdominal (rectus) muscle, as the blood vessels, or perforators, required to keep the tissue alive lie just beneath or within this muscle. Therefore, a small incision is made in the abdominal muscle in order to access the vessels.After the skin, tissues and perforators have been dissected, the flap is transplanted and connected to the patient's chest using microsurgery. The plastic surgeon then shapes the flap to create the new breast. As no abdominal muscle is removed or transferred to the breast, patients typically see a lower risk of losing abdominal muscle strength and may experience a faster recovery compared to TRAM flap patients. Studies comparing abdominal results with the muscle-sparing free TRAM and the DIEP show that abdominal wall hernias occur less frequently in DIEP patients, although the abdominal wall bulge rates are similar for both procedures.
The removal of lower abdominal tissue may result in a flatter abdominal contour, an effect sometimes compared to abdominoplasty. However, one risk of these procedures is the potential denervation of the abdominal musculature following the DIEP dissection. Operative time varies but is typically longer than implant-based reconstruction, with reported durations ranging from six to eight hours or more in complex cases.
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is typically performed by the Plastic Surgery team so is only available in centres with Plastic Surgery support. The procedure is technically more complex than some other reconstructive options and has been associated in some studies with favorable cosmetic outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction. Recent advances in preoperative imaging of the blood vessels in the abdomen, operative time and complication rates can be reduced in DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
Procedure description
DIEP flap surgery is a type of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy of a single or both breasts by using abdominal fat, skin, and blood vessels from the patient's own body.Natural breast tissue
Because the reconstructed breast consists of the patient’s own tissue, changes in body weight may affect breast volume. Hospital stay is typically longer than for implant-based reconstruction due to postoperative flap monitoring.Timing of the reconstruction
The operation can be performed at the time of the mastectomy or at a later time point. Reasons to delay the operation include: surgeon preference, patient preference, advanced tumor requiring radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, or because of a complication with an immediate breast reconstruction. The DIEP flap, because it can restore both the surface area and volume of a breast, is ideal for both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction.Recovery
Recovery from a DIEP flap happens in stages. Most patients leave the hospital in approximately 4 days, feel capable of doing most activities on their own after 3–4 weeks, and have no surgical restrictions by 6–8 weeks. Most patients are able to return to normal activities in 3–4 months.Abdominoplasty
The harvesting of abdominal fat and belly skin generally provides an aesthetic benefit to the abdomen. It is often likened to an abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck", however the two procedures have notable differences.Similarities to an abdominoplasty
- Tissue removed: Excess abdominal adipose tissue and skin are removed in both procedures while also preserving the abdominal muscles. Upper abdominal skin is stretched taut to close the incision. The belly button is reattached through a new opening.
- Incision pattern: Both procedures remove a football-shaped area of skin and fat resulting in a hip-to-hip scar. The scar is often low enough to be hidden by underwear, however some DIEP patients end up with a higher than ideal scar due to their anatomical tissue distribution needed for the breast reconstruction.
- Aesthetic results: All patients generally benefit from a flatter abdomen and improved waist contour.
Differences from an abdominoplasty
- Abdominal wall tightening: A hallmark of the tummy tuck is that surgeons use internal sutures to close the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. This creates a smooth and firm result. This is not always a part of DIEP flap breast reconstruction and varies by surgeon.
- Surgeon training: DIEP flap surgery requires the expertise of highly trained microsurgeons who are skilled in harvesting blood vessels and sensory nerves. No special care for blood vessels or sensory nerves is necessary for a tummy tuck, and standard trained plastic surgeons are capable of that procedure.
- Purpose of procedure: A tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure used to give the abdomen a slimmer appearance. DIEP flap reconstruction is procedure that reconstructs breasts after a single or double mastectomy due to breast cancer.
- Length of surgery/hospital stay: A DIEP flap reconstruction surgery takes about six to eight hours on average. If the mastectomy is performed during the same procedure, the length of time will be hours longer. Patients recovering from DIEP flap reconstruction remain in the hospital for several days. A tummy tuck typically takes about three hours. It is often an out-patient procedure with no need for the patient to stay overnight in the hospital.